Pneumatic-action of musical instruments.



No. 809,039. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

M. S. WRIGHT. PNEUMATIC ACTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

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APPLICATION FILED MARJS, 1902.

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MORRIS S. WRIGHT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AEOLIAN' COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

PNEUMATIC-ACTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed March 13, 1902. Serial No. 98,058.

To aZZ whom, it necty concern:

Be it known that I, MoRRIs S. WVRIGI-IT, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVorcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic-Actions of Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in which Figure 1 represents a top view of that portion of the pneumatic-action which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a front view, of the actuatingknob and graduated dial.

Similar reference-letters refer to similar parts in the different views.

My invention relates to the pneumatic-action of a musical instrument by which the movement of the operative parts is controlled by a perforated music-sheet which is made to move across a tracker-board con taining a series of openings communicating with a passage leading to the pneumatic-action, said openings being alternately opened and closed by the passage of the perforated sheet over them; and my present invention relates to the means for controlling the movement of the perforated sheet whereby the perforations are brought into registration with the openings to the air-passages; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A B denote the rolls for carrying the perforated music-sheet C, which is wound upon the roll A and in the operation of the mechanism transferred to the roll B, giving a movement to the music-sheet in the direction of the arrow at, Fig. 2, whereby the music-sheet is drawn across the tracker-board D, said board containing a series of openings extending across and beneath the music-sheet, a portion of said openings being indicated by the broken linesE, Fig. 2. The perforations F in the music-sheet are arranged in parallel lines running lengthwise the sheet and parallel with its line of motion as it is wound from the spool A to the spool B, and it is necessary that its line of perforations shall register accurately with one of the openings E in the tracker-board, and in order to accomplish this result I have provided means for laterally moving the music-sheet C to the right or left, as required. The journals G G of the roll A are capable of sliding lengthwise in their bearings in the supporting-frame H, thereby allowing the roll A to be moved to the right or left for the adjustment of the music-sheet relatively to the openings E. The journals G G are provided with extensions G G The extension G extends through a frame I and carries the collars I 1 between the frames H and 1, whereby the longitudinal movement of the extension G is limited Attached to the frame I is a spring J, having its free end bearing against the end of the extension G in order to push the roll A to the right, or in the direction of the arrow 1). The extension G at the opposite end of the roll A extends through a frame K, and bearing against its outer end is a lever L, pivoted at L to a bracket L projecting from the side of the frame K. Acting against the lever L between the extension G and the pivot L is a cam M, carried upon a spindle N, journaled in a bracket N and in the framework N which forms a portion of the front of the musical instrument. Upon the front end of the spindle N is carried a milled knob O, adapted to be turned by the operator for the purpose of rotating the cam M against the leverL, and thereby pushing the roll A toward the left, or in the direction of the arrow 0, and against the tension of the spring J. As the cam M presses against the lever L and not directly a ainst the extension G its push is multipl ied, and a cam may be employed of less divergence from a circle. A cam of this shape resists more securely the push of the spring J. The spindle N carries near its forward end a pointer P, which extends over the graduated arc Q on a plate R, attached to the framework of the machine, for the purpose of indicating to the operator the position of the cam M.

Whenever it is desired to move the perforated music-sheet C toward the left to bring its perforations into registration with the openings E in the tracker-board, the knob O is turned to rotate the cam M against the lever L and crowd the roll A in the direction of the arrow 0 a sufficient distance to bring each line of perforations in the music-sheet into registration with the openings in the trackerboard. If it is desired to move the musicsheet to the right, the motion of the spindle N and cam M is reversed, allowing the spring J to move the roll A in the direction of the arrow 5. I have shown an adjusting mech anism as applied to the upper roll; but it may, if desired, be applied to the lower roll in the same manner as shown and describedthat is, the object of my invention is to provide means for holding either one of the rolls in fixed relation with the trackerboard and for moving the other roll longitudinally with reference to the tracker-board, so that changes in the paper due to shrinking and swelling may be compensated for. The paper in my device remains in general stationary in its longitudinal relation to the tracker board; but it may be adjusted slightly to preserve the necessary accuracy between the openings in the paper and the holes in the tracker-board.

I am aware that it has been proposed to move both rolls with relation to the trackerboard in order to change the key of the music, and I do not claim such a device.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pneumatic-actuated musical, instrument, the combination with one of the rolls for a perforated music-sheet capable of longitudinal movement, of a lever having one end pivoted to the frame of the instrument and its free end bearing against one end of said roll, a cam adapted to contact with said lever between its pivoted end and the end of said roll, and means for retaining the end of said roll in contact with said lever.

2. In a pneumatic-actuated musical instrument, the combination with one of the rolls for a perforated music-sheet capable of longitudinal movement, of a lever having one end pivoted to the frame of the instrument and its free end bearing against one end of said roll, a cam adapted to contact with said lever between its pivoted end and the end of said roll, and a spring bearing against the opposite end of said roll.

3. In a pneumatic-actuated musical instrument, the combination with one of the rolls for a perforated music-sheet capable of longitudinal movement, of the pivoted lever L bearing against said roll, and the cam M contacting with the lever L between its pivot and its contact with said roll.

4. In a pneumatic-actuated musical instrument, the combination, with one of the rolls for a perforated music-sheet having extended bearings and capable of longitudinal movement, of a cam operatively connected with one of said bearings, a spring for reversing the movement of said roll, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said extended bearings.

5. In a pneumatic-actuated musical instrument, the combination with one of the rolls for a perforated music-sheet capable of longitudinal movement, of a lever having one end pivoted to the frame of the instrument and its free end bearing against one end of said roll, a cam adapted to contact with. said lever between its pivoted end and the end of said roll, a spring bearing against the oppo site end of said roll, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said roll.

6. In a pneumatic-actuated musical iii-- strument, the combination with one of the rolls for a perforated music-sheet capable of longitudinal movement, a cam arranged to move said roll in one direction, means between said cam and said roll for n'iultiplying the movement of said cam, and a spring for reversing the movement of said roll.

MORRIS S. \VRIGHT. Witnesses M. M. SOHUERMANN, RUFUs B. FOWLER. 

